The Portland daily press., 1887-09-24
INUNDATED TEXAS.
Houses and Crops Destroyed by a
Terrific Storm.
Many Poor People Homeless and
Suffering In the Storm.
Police, Troops and Citizens Rescue
Women and Children.

BROWNSVILLE, Sept. pa terrific cy-
clone passed over Brownsville, Texas, We'd
nesday night, the storm being accompanied
by tremendous rainfall, which reached 10
inches by actual measurement Several
small houses in Brownsville were blown
down, and 800 others were partially damaged
Telegraph wires were badly disorganized
The total loss will reach 100000 No one
was killed. but many sustained injuries.
The village Of Santa Cruz, opposite Browns
vile, was entirely submerged for several
hours. The Rio Grande rose rapidly and
ragged like sea, the back water overfiowing
many miles Of fertile country.
The wind reached a velocity OF over so
miles an hour, and blew perfect hurricane
for two hours. The floods did almost as
much damage as the wind. Hardly a tree Is
left standing In the vicinity, and several hun
dTed acres OF sugar cane. were blown fiat.
MANY Mexican families, whose frail houses
were topped over, were cared for by citizens
and lodged in public buildings.
The extent of damage south and west of
Brownsville, along the Rio Grande, is not
yet known. In Matamoras, dozens Of houses
of the better class and from $50 to 200 small
houses were prostrated, while from 400 to 500
others were unroOfed In the country, on
the American side of the river, incaiculable
damage was done. Countless numbers of
cattle and sheep have been lost, and crops Of
cotton and sugar cane are completely de-
stroyed.
A Later Account.
BROWNSVILLE, Tex, Sept. 23-At O'Clock
Tuesday evening. a ''norther," which had
been blowing several days, increased in
fierceness, with heavy gusts of rain.s In
short time, the hurricane came on in full
force. the wind reaching. in the height Of
the storm, velocity of 78 miles, All night
long 1t continued bowling, mingled with the
crash Of falling houses, the rending sound Of
falling trees, and the rattling of fences as
they went over, or the shouts of those de-
serting their crumbling residences or implor-
ing aid. The morning dawned on scene of
desolation. The water filed the streets,
through which the roaring north wind drove
the rain like great volleys Of small shot At
2.30 p. m. the wind lulled, and almost dead
calm ensued until 4.30, when the wind came
from the south. This shows that the vortex
of the hurricane, as in the case Of those Of
1880 and 1886, passed directly over this sec
ti0n.
About p. m, the wind again became yio-
lent, this time from the south, and continued
until this morning when the hurricane ceased
The rainfall was 1910 inches. The average
temperature was " degrees. The velocity OF
the wind, while greater thansin the hurri-
cane of last year, did not show the same
force during the sudden gusts. The damage
In the country, outside of the two cities, Is
incalculable. Countless head of cattle and
sheep were lost and the crops OF cotton,
corn and sugar-cane completely destroyed.
The total losses are far beyond million del
lars.
In Brownsville the chief sufferers are
poor Between 60 and 80 jacals. or the cheap,
er class of dwellings, were blown down, and
fully 500 are partially unroOfed and rendered
unlnhabitable A barge and steam launch
at the ferry landing were sunk. The boats
OF the ferry company were saved with great
difficulty. The telegraph wires to Point Isa-
bel are down, and it Is not known how
things are there. There is great suffering
among the poor, many being without re-
sources. Sheriff Brita has succored many
families but it is still possible to aid only
portion OF those in need. The river Is again
very high and overfl0wing its banks.
In Matamoras, the narrow streets during
the storm, were rivers of water, from ankle
to nearly hip deep: In the city. about doz-
en- houses of the better class and $50 or 2C0
Iacals were Frustrated, and from AGO to 800
more were unroofed or shattered
Tho unfortunate Lagoon district south Of
the Plaza del CapiDa, is again inundated. A
large portion of the houses have fallen, and
the water is from knee to waist deep. From
u o'clock Tuesday night till noon Of yestsr-
day, the police, troops and many citizens
were engaged In saving the inhabitants and
their effects. Women and girls crouched on
beds in scanty attire. They were obliged to
enter the dark waters, and face the driving
gusts of wind and rain until conveyed some
400 yards to place of safety. The force Of
the wind precluded the use Of carriages.
More damage appears to have been done in
the Freeport district than in that toward the
San Fernando gate or Casa Mata. The
public school buildings are full Of refugees,
and the authorities are doing all in their
fha he. e.
goods were generally damaged by water.
The suffering in town and country is gener-
ally severe. At the railroad station, several
sheds were blown down. The line is report
ed inundated at several points. At Arrieros
Park considerable damage was done.